WBC SAYS TACONING TO LAUNCH TERRIFIC CHALLENGE FOR LIGHT FLYWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jun 2016
The World Boxing Council says that in a battle of southpaws, Filipino KO artist, 29 year old Jonathan ?Lightning? Taconing is coming to Arena Coliseo, near to Mexico City to launch a terrific challenge, as number one contender against the 34 year old WBC light flyweight champion Ganigan ?El Maravilla? Lopez, this Saturday.
It is expected to be the very toughest Ganigan could have chosen for his first title defense.
The Mexican won the title from Japan?s Yu Kimura in Kyoto last March 4 by a majority decision in a fight that appeared to be strange in terms of the scorecards.
While Cathy Leonard scored it 119-109 for Ganigan Lopez and Tex Ritter also had the Mexican the winner 118-110, Mexican judge Juan Carlos Pelayo had it even at 114-114.
At the weekly World Boxing Council press conference in Mexico City's Zona Rosa, Ganigan, smiled and waved as he greeted Taconing who was sitting across the other side of the room, accompanied by promoter Johnny Elorde of the famous Elorde family.
Also in Mexico were Johnny?s wife Liza and two sons Miguel and Martin who are both regional boxing champions.
The WBC reported ?there was palpable tension in the office, which was jam packed with dozens of reporters, photographers and TV cameras.?
Taconing who has a record of 22-2-1 with 18 knockouts thanked the WBC and its President Mauricio Sulaiman for this opportunity. He explained he's been ?carefully studying the way Ganigan moves and fights. And warned if Ganigan, evades and tries to box, he'll definitely go after him.?
Taconing said Mexico City's altitude affected him only for the first day, and he's now attuned to it as well as acclimatized to the weather.
Ganigan whose record isn?t as impressive as Taconings with 6 defeats against 27 wins with 17 knockouts praised Taconing as ?a worthy and powerful opponent but stressed he himself has trained to peak condition.?
Ganigan said it's taken him his entire life to win a coveted WBC belt, so he vows he's going to keep it!
Former WBC light flyweight champion Pedro Guevara who was at the press conference said while Taconing has power, Ganigan is ?stylish, accomplished and very determined.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
Sat, 31 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 30 Jan 2026